Ian Leaves Florida’s Grid in Tatters Despite Billions Spent (2)

Parts of Florida’s electric grid must be completely rebuilt after Hurricane Ian battered the state and blacked out 2.6 million homes and businesses -- many of which face days or even weeks without power.

Ian walloped Florida’s electric system despite years of efforts by the state’s utilities to harden it. After a string of major hurricanes ravaged the state in 2004 and 2005, Florida utilities invested billions of dollars upgrading the system, replacing many wooden utility poles with concrete ones and placing some power lines underground. The state’s four biggest utilities spent an estimated $3 billion on storm protection ...